Who we are
The Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT) is the Washington, DC liaison office of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). President is Dr. Thomas Zielke. RGIT’s mission is to foster free trade and a welcoming business environment on both sides of the Atlantic to achieve sustainable growth, jobs and innovation for companies involved in German-American economic relations.
Founded in 1988, RGIT is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and serves as the voice of German Industry and Trade on behalf of RGIT’s principals BDI and DIHK. The BDI – Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie – speaks for 37 sector associations, 15 regional offices, and approx. 100.000 companies with a total workforce of about eight million people. The DIHK – Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag – represents the interests of the 80 German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (CCIs) and their 3.6 million member companies from the industry, trade and service sectors.
RGIT maintains registrations under both the Foreign Agents Registration Act and the Lobby Disclosure Act.
News
U.S.-EU Trade Working Group May Be Limited By Political Realities Of 2012
In an Interview with Inside US Trade the President of RGIT, Thomas Zielke, stressed that the agenda of the working group tasked by the leaders of the U.S. and European Union last November with exploring how to deepen the trans-Atlantic trade relationship should be as...more
German-American Business Outlook 2011: German firms in the U.S. confident despite political and economic uncertainties
Companies continue to innovate, grow, and hire 67% plan to create new jobs in 2012,skills shortages an obstacle for 60% German companies in the United States are optimistic despite political and economic uncertainties on both sides of the Atlantic. Sales volumes...more
Updated RGIT Fact Sheet - German American Trade, Investment and Jobs
German Investment Totals $213 Billion in the United States – Now 4th Largest Investor Foreign investors from Germany --- the largest European economy --- have long maintained a strong presence in the United States. German investment is highly sought after by state...more
BDI: German and U.S. Business Leaders Call for Action to Deepen the Transatlantic Partnership
Members of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and Business Roundtable (BRT) met Tuesday in Berlin and discussed proposals for how U.S., German and other European business leaders can help deepen U.S.-EU relations through the creation of a new Transatlantic...more
State Secretary Jochen Homann visits Washington
State Secretary Jochen Homann of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology discussed market conditions for German-American companies in the United States during a dinner hosted by the Representative of German Industry and Trade. During his brief visit to...more
Events
Highlights RGIT Conference Skilled Labor: Conditions for Investments, Manufacturing, and Economic Growth in the U.S.
Martin Wansleben, CEO of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training and Gerri Fiala, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and...[more]
GIZ plans increased activity in North America
During a reception in the RGIT-offices on September 26, Christoph Beier, member of the Executive Board of the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH”, presented opportunities for his organization to increase its activities in North America...[more]
Minister of Science, Economic Affairs and Transport of the State of Schleswig Holstein visits RGIT
A delegation around Jost de Jager, Minister of Science, Economic Affairs and Transport of the State ofSchleswig Holstein, travelling to the 3rd Annual Renewable Energy Technology Conference & Exhibition RETECH in Washington D.C. visited the office of the...[more]
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